The Knicks may be the only organization more volatile than 2016′s GOP (though Vivek’s royal shitshow certainly gives them a run for their millions), but this sudden move feels more pragmatically proactive than pridefully impulsive.

In his second Sports Illustratedcolumn, former Grantland scribe Andrew Sharp asserts “This could definitely be James Dolan watching the past two weeks and deciding to blow his kazoo. But if you’ve been paying close attention to the Knicks, it’s more likely that Phil Jackson is worried about the next two years. He saw something he didn’t like, and he realized that the only move crazier than firing Derek Fisher now was hiring him in the first place.”

My fellow Knicks apologists need to passionately cling to this belief as warmly as Peyton embraced Papa John before going to Disneyland.

Bill Simmons won’t be your white whale. While today’s ESPN isn’t 1970′s McCann Erickson, The Sports Guy and Mad Men‘s Don Draper would much rather be captains of their own murky fates.

Simmons walking away from his current Skipper isn’t so different from Draper walking out (and driving off) on his new one. Simmons’s September departure and Mad Men‘s May 17th series finale will each mark the end of distinct eras that these iconic wordsmiths have cultivated and personified.

Like Draper at SCDP, Simmons helped construct a successful empire by creating demand for feelings and insights people didn’t know they couldn’t live without. Regardless of whether you believe happiness is “a moment before you need more happiness” or simply another Boston sports championship, it’s becoming more transparent that both brand builders are really chasing elusive fulfillment. Despite boundless resources at their disposal, fulfillment is surprisingly harder to define and attain.

Although Simmons and Draper are self-made, neither would have reached their creative potential without an audience, infrastructure, and charming, white haired mentorship (John Walsh is Bert Cooper/Roger Sterling).

ESPN and McCann will survive (I’m happy to report the latter has continued to thrive), but solutions can be tricky to visualize after the lossof a true visionary. Especially when they resurface. Only time will tell if standout Grantland staffers including “television analyst” Andy Greenwald embrace cultural shift like Ted Chaough, or pull a Peggy Olsen and take change in stride.

While Don Draper has plenty of experience in burying the past, this is uncharted territory for Clairvoyant Bill. Where will post-Grantland and 30 for 30 life lead him next? Fox Sports, Turner, and Tommy Heinsohn’s seat all sound alluring, but Clairvoyant Bank is calling BS.

After all, “you’re born alone, you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts.” But Bill Simmons won’t forget. He’s “living like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t one.”

It’s been nearly five months and I’m still not over this. While Manu Ginóbili was posterizing Chris Bosh in the second quarter of San Antonio’s 2014 Finals-clinching victory last June, he wasn’t just defying gravity and male pattern baldness. The rejuvenated Argentine assassin was Spurning Father Time, bad bounces, and the notion that historic NBA dynasties die just as quickly as new monarchies rise.

The 2014-15 season, like Ginóbili’s emphatic eff you, will force basketball fans and insiders to once again re-evaluate what’s possible. With King James taking his talents (and royally confusing follicle flaws) back to Brian Hoyer’s city, it feels like there’s a Chris Kaman-esque adventure on the horizon. Who’s coming with me?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

5. Philadelphia

While taking in a USA vs. Dominican Republic FIBA World Cup exhibition game at Madison Square Garden in August, I had the unique privilege of sitting directly above a spectating Nerlens Noel. Watching Noel ingest six chicken fingers and several Two and Half Men reruns (on his luxury suite’s television), I couldn’t think of a better metaphor for the 2014-15 Sixers.

From the top down, this organization is embracing predictable chaos with a Charlie Sheen-esque disregard for immediate consequences and the relationships that matter most. Sure, GM Sam Hinkie’s stockpiling young assets for the future. But how long will kinetic Philly fans support a plan rooted entirely in potential? The Answers don’t always fall in your lap.

4. Boston

Brian Griese’s dog is calling bullshit on this Rajon Rondo shower story. Rondo’s easily the league’s most competitive extraterrestrial, but he’ll soon have another home to phone. Brad Stevens will keep his squad engaged, but February’s trade deadline should be a transitional point in a transitional season for the C’s. Danny Ainge hosed Brooklyn last summer, and it’s only a matter of time before Manhattan’s franchise allows him to do the same.

3. New York

I admire Taylor Swift’s Big Apple enthusiasm, but it won’t be long before she’s penning breakup songs about the emotionally abusive and heartbreaking Knickerbockers. Although it appears James Dolan is too busy kazooing to interfere with bi-coastal president Phil Jackson, it’s way harder to mend a decrepit culture than it is to overhaul an incoherent roster.

Patience is essential, though I’d be shocked if Jackson waits until next summer to make his first franchise-altering player acquisition. Rondo and Melo would make an interesting tandem, but an elite interior stopper should be his top priority. We’ll miss ya, (pre-2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals and flu-like symptoms-stricken) Tyson Chandler. If only Derek Fisher could also preach the Triangle Defense.

Will Carmelo Anthony foster more ball movement? Can José Calderón help resurrect what’s left of Andrea Bargnani’s contract/career? What happens if red wine unexpectedly seeps into your urethra? So many questions.

2. Brooklyn

Paul Pierce’s departure is a much bigger deal than Shaun Livingston’s. Not being able to handle The Truth will place significant pressure on bailout scorer Joe Johnson and bailed out sulker Deron Williams. With Mr. Glass (Brook Lopez) already facing foot issues, World Champion (and not in the Judah Friedlander kind of way) Mason Plumlee will need to give Lionel Hollins big minutes down low.

Collective regular season health arguably means more to Nets than any other team. If the wheels fall off, stay tuned for a trade-induced Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers LA reunion.

1. Toronto

Started from the bottom now they’re here. Drake’s beloved Raptors are primed to seize their second consecutive Atlantic title, though multiyear contract Kyle Lowry terrifies me. All of Canada better hope he and DeMar DeRozan haven’t lint rolled the chip off their shoulders.

Southeast Division

5. Orlando

GM Rob Hennigan’s accumulating (and locking up) a compelling mix of young talent, but the Magic are a few seasons (and probably one head coach) away from making noise. Elfrid Payton is a rookie of the year sleeper, but this unit is in desperate need of a proven scorer who can close out tight games.

Probably the single hardest team to gauge. There’s no replacing LeBron, but adding a Luol Deng and “maintenance-free” Dwyane Wade is a nice place to start. The latter is the NBA’s single biggest X-factor not named Derrick Rose. He’s also most likely to become this era’s Iverson/Isiah by physically wearing himself out of the league well before his 35th birthday.

Can Coach Spo manage Wade’s minutes while depending on Chris “I should’ve went to Houston for the max” Bosh to carry the load? Doubtful. Welcome back to what the last four seasons would’ve been like had LBJ stayed in Cleveland, D-Wade.

3. Charlotte

Dust off your Starter jackets, rush order your official Grandmama Swingman, and start binge-watching Nickelodeon’s My Brother and Me. The Charlotte Hornets are back and ready to make you forget that the Bobcats were ever really a thing.

Kemba and Lance could already be the league’s ballsiest backcourt, but how fast can they rub off on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist? MKG’s only 21, but his growth means everything to this Big Al-anchored team on the rise.

***Side note/story: After attending a Lorde (Ya Ya Ya) concert at Roseland Ballroom (RIP) back in March, I strolled into a Midtown bar to find none other than Sir Charles Barkley. Over a few beverages, we proceeded to discuss the current NBA landscape and share some Adam Morrison jokes.

Charles may or may not have told me that Michael Jordan “doesn’t know how to draft players for d*ck.” He most definitely told me that he doesn’t “give a f*ck” about a potential SPACE JAM sequel. Soul-crushing.

2. Atlanta

Sticky times in Hotlanta, but these guys are always strangely competitive. I’m genuinely looking forward to not watching them on NBA TV in April.

The Wiz made huge strides last season, and Paul Pierce’s leadership should tangibly improve John Wall’s. Randy Wittman is more than capable of f*cking this up, but experience will make up for losing contract year Trevor Ariza.

Jason Kidd’s coup pales in comparison to landing Jabari Parker with the second overall pick. Paul Pierce 2.0 is ready to (offensively) dominate right away, and “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo will electrify Twitter even more than Mallory Edens. Still, I’m not sold on the Larry Sanders revival that’s necessary for them to compete on a nightly basis. Hey later.

4. Indiana

How the f*k is this team going to score? After enduring the league’s most depressing offseason, Frank Vogel will have to pull a Tom Thibodeau and make winning ugly look beautiful. I went all in on last year’s Pacers, but picking them to finish fourth in their division now feels like an even bigger leap of faith. I trust Vogel and Larry Legend to maintain some sense of stability, though a Copesanity redux may be their only hope. Break a leg, y’all!

Too soon?

3. Detroit

Stan Van Gundy’s awkwardly dealt with enigmatic stars before, but Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith are different animals. With SVG possessing full personnel control, it’ll be fascinating to see who’s exported from Detroit.

2. Chicago

Derrick Rose will stay healthy this season. He has to.

The Association has changed since the superstar-less 2003-2004 Pistons shocked the Kobe/Shaq Lakers and hoisted Larry O’Brien’s Trophy. Tom Thibodeau’s Bulls teams routinely reach their respective ceilings, but only D-Rose’s presence (no disrespect to newcomer Pau Gasol) can make the sky their limit.

At least this was the case before LeBron sat down with SI’s Lee Jenkins.

1. Cleveland

LeBron’s return to Cleveland feels a lot like Walter White’s return to Albuquerque. Armed with heavy artillery and nothing to lose but previously strained ties to a past he infamously fled, the King of Kings is back to rewrite and cement his lasting legacy.

Kyrie and K-Love may be be sharing some of his spotlight, but the volatile Dion Waiters is LeBron’s Jesse Pinkman. Waiters was born to be a contender’s sixth man, but will he embrace the apprenticeship of a lifetime at 22? Yeah bitch.

LeBron doesn’t have to go down as the greatest player ever to have the greatest career arc, and Vince Gilligan couldn’t have scripted this one any better. Despite some predictable ups and downs, Cleveland will return to the Finals for the first time since 2007.

That’s where they’ll meet their Hank and Gomez-esque demise.

Walter White once asserted that chemistry is “growth, then decay, then transformation.” Chemistry matters, and Cleveland’s deprived fans won’t get to fully experience the compound until the first two elements have the necessary time to react.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

5. Utah

Missing out on Mormon Jabari Parker would make many question their faith, but Aussie Dante Exum is on a mission to convert his early haters. Will art and hair gel enthusiast Quin Snyder help Gordon Hayward justify his seemingly horrible but unavoidable max deal? Can Steve Novak Discount Double Check his back into an NBA rotation? He belongs here, right?

4. Minnesota

Bruce Jenner thinks Flip Saunders has an identity crisis. As Wolves president, part-owner, and head coach, Saunders will have to juggle proactive and reactive decision making without getting one (or all) of his selves canned. Andrew Wiggins, “Tony” Bennett, and Zach “F*ck Me” LaVine need LOTS of time to grow, and it’s way less stressful for a 59-year-old to patiently observe from above than it is from the sidelines.

Ask yourselves, Minnesotans. Is it truly better to have Loved and lost than never to have Loved at all?

3. Denver

Aaron Afflalo isn’t LeBron, but his return shouldn’t be flying this low under the Mile High radar. He and Ty Lawson will rival any Western Conference starting backcourt, but frontcourt health will determine whether the Nuggets can contend for a bottom playoff spot. If Danilo Gallinari and JaVale McGee are able to fully recover from their respective woes, Brian Shaw’s deep roster should have the league’s highest win differential from last season. No amount of legal hippie lettuce should allow you to zone out on rookie Gary Harris. And I almost made it through this paragraph without a lazy stoner joke.

2. Portland

Damian Lillard’s incredible playoff walk-off busted this rehabilitated organization out of the Jail Blazers’ shadow. LaMarcus Aldridge’s contract situation is a distraction, but I simply can’t see Lillard allowing him to leave. These franchise players need each other like Robin Lopez needs to get with the times.

1. Oklahoma City

Kevin Durant’s foot injury is a blessing disguised as a karmic wake-up call for Sam Presti and Thunder ownership. If KD to DC rumors won’t incentivize OKC’s execs to invest in supporting talent, these next few months should do the trick.

Russell Westbrook will come in like a wrecking ball but quickly remember why he needs the league’s reigning MVP by his side. This humbling absence may be just what Westbrook and Presti need to rise to the occasion and keep Durant fresher when they will both need him most.

Let’s not forget how great these guys (and Steven Adams’s mustache) have been.

Vivek Ranadivé is my favorite NBA owner. After hearing his story, how can he not be? A monster Boogie Cousins season is the only thing that’ll distance Vivek’s professional team from the recreational girls’ squad he once volunteered to coach.

With the Dragics, Eric Bledsoe, Number one contender Isiah Thomas, and rookie Tyler Ennis all in the fold, Hornacek will aim to make Mike D’Antoni’s only remaining supporters forget he ever existed.

Nobody saw last year’s 48-win season coming. But why sneak up on teams when you can blow right by ‘em?

2. Golden State

For a team known for it’s quick releases, I still can’t believe the Warriors neglected to pull the trigger on a Kevin Love trade. It’s too early to tell if Steve Kerr is a head coaching upgrade, but Love and Curry would’ve quickly drowned out all memories of the Splash Brothers.

Roster continuity is a rarity, but it’s hard to justify firing Mark Jackson when you aren’t also willing to swap his second best guard for the NBA’s most dynamic power forward.

Maybe The Beatles were wrong and all you really need is a healthy Andrew Bogut.

1. L.A. Clippers

Turns out Steve Ballmer may be even crazier than Donald Sterling. Must be nice having a boss with energy as genuine as your previous employer’s douchebaggery.

Chris Paul and (Senior Editor!) Blake Griffin are both legitimate MVP candidates, but a healthy J.J. Redick will be their X-factor.

After admirably remedying last season’s chaos, Doc Rivers can now focus on basketball. With some of the NBA’s darkest days nearing their conclusion, it’s comforting to know we can all do the same.

Southwest Division

5. New Orleans

NOLA’s roster is more incoherently intriguing than a Rust Cohle monologue. Anthony Davis is the future ‘browed face of professional basketball, and the Ryan Anderson/Omer Asik combo should allow him to play to all of his strengths.

Still, Eric Gordon will continue getting hurt, Jrue Holiday will continue making me wish they kept Nerlens Noel, and Tyreke Evans will continue to remind me of that guy from the “Unforgivable” videos. Time is a flat circle and it’ll be at least another season before the Pelicans straighten themselves out.

Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki will provide ridiculous spacing for Monta Ellis to continue doing Monta Ellis things. As long as Rick Carlisle keeps doing Rick Carlisle things, the Mavericks will make another postseason push. Tyson Chandler should’ve always remained a Dallas lifer, and I fully expect him to bounce back strong in his second stint.

Because Knicks fans haven’t suffered nearly enough.

3. Houston

Trevor Ariza never would’ve let Damion Lillard hit that shot.

Ariza’s back where he played his career high minutes per game in 2009-10, and Kevin McHale’s job may depend on getting similar output this time around. James Harden and Dwight Howard all but guarantee a successful regular season, but it will be hard to look past what could’ve been (adding Chris Bosh and retaining Chandler Parsons was once a very real possibility) come playoff time.

2. Memphis

While I’m not sold on 37-year-old Vince Carter holding up, Mike Miller miraculously played 82 games after hobbling barefoot into Memphis last summer. Miller is gone, but Grit and Grind is forever. Dave Joerger proved he can coach, and the Grizz will once again compete for the Western Conference title. They can always blame Beno Udrih if it doesn’t work out.

1. San Antonio

For years, we’ve taken the Spurs’ unrivaled efficiency, core stability, and age/style-defying greatness for granted. They’ve been so many things for so long, but resiliently returning to the NBA Finals to vanquish the Heat has finally made them cool.